St. Thomas photos

The Virgin Islands, an organized, unincorporated territory of the United States were originally settled by the Ciboney, Carib, and Arawaks peoples.

First named by Christopher Columbus in 1493 for Saint Ursula and her virgin followers, these islands are renown for white sand beaches, crystal-blue waters and idyllic sailing venues.

Steeped in maritime history and remnants of the many European cultures, the U.S. Virgin Islands remain one of the busiest cruise ship ports and family vacations destinations in all of the Caribbean.

Covered with red-roofed buildings and houses, the capital city of Charlotte Amalie sits amidst lush green hills, and is widely considered the most beautiful port in the Caribbean. The duty-free shopping, hotels and restaurants on St. Thomas and St. Croix are second to none.

This sign points the way to five of the most popular (and must see) points-of-interest on St. Thomas.

A stylish wooden door in Charlotte Amalie.

Sailboats are as common as sunshine in the Virgin Islands.

Overlooking Charlotte Amalie on Government Hill is Blackbeard's Castle, a National Historic Landmark built by the Danes in 1679 to protect the harbor. Within the nicely landscaped grounds are three historic houses, including Britannia House, Villa Notman and the Haagernsen House.

A building well-worth touring is the Frederik Evangelical Lutheran Church in Charlotte Amalie, established in 1666. That same year Erik Nelson Smith took formal possession of the island of St. Thomas in the name of the Danish West India Company. The building was gutted by the fire in 1826, but the walls remained sound and it was rebuilt. Hurricane damage was sustained in 1870, and the appearance of the present building dates from the repair and remodeling of that period. In 1993 the 200th anniversary was celebrated by the congregation.

Set in bronze, this statue on St. Thomas honors Queen Mary, Queen Agnes and Queen Josiah - who on Oct. 1, 1878, led laborers in setting fire to half of Frederiksted on St. Croix in a successful demand for better wages and working conditions across the islands. This sculpture was commissioned by the St. Thomas Historical Trust.

Like many Caribbean islands, local buildings are often brightly colored and easy on the eyes. This charming example in Charlotte Amalie was surrounded by palms and a white picket fence.

Here's another example of bright colors used on a building on the island of St. Thomas. I also like the inviting entrance.

Bright-colored shutters add typical St. Thomas charm to a local building.

Certainly weathered, this boarded-up home sits on the southern slope of Government Hill in Charlotte Amalie.

Queen street is the major shopping venue for tourists that visit Charlotte Amalie on the island of St. Thomas. During the cruise ship season thousands of visitors go store to store looking for bargains. On some days, 8 or more ships are docked in the harbor, and the town is packed with shoppers.

The U.S. Virgin Islands are a great place to visit. They are sunny and warm, and safe place for families of all sizes.